Liberty University in Lynchburg leads Virginia's list with an online Master of Education in School Counseling, followed by Longwood University's reading, literacy and learning degree and Old Dominion's special education program built for Virginia licensure. The remaining schools range from Regent in Virginia Beach and the University of Lynchburg to Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Mary Baldwin, Averett and Eastern Mennonite.
The spread of in-state prices is wide, with the University of Virginia at the top, so cost deserves attention here. So does the licensing structure: Virginia writes its rules into regulation, and those rules decide which of these degrees add an endorsement and which only deepen practice.
Source: IPEDS, read October 6, 2026. Tuition is the 2023-24 in-state rate.
top score, Liberty University
91.7
median in-state tuition and fees across the 10 listed, 2023-24
$14,009
schools in Virginia with a ranked fully online master's in education
17
ranked programs in Virginia that lead to a license
26
This list covers fully online master's programs at universities located in Virginia, one per school.
The 10 Best Online Master's in Education Programs in Virginia
The 10 programs below are at schools in Virginia, scored at the in-state price and listed one per school.
1
Liberty University
Master of Education in School Counseling
Lynchburg, Virginia
91.7- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
- Degrees awarded
- 382 a year
- Yearly cost
- $8,340
- In-state rate
- $8,340, 2023-24
Three years and 60 credit hours: that is the commitment in Liberty University's Master of Education in School Counseling, taken over six semesters. A practicum and two internship courses come with the coursework, along with two required synchronous online courses, and field placements are split between elementary and secondary levels. CACREP and CAEP both accredit it.
In Virginia, the degree prepares for school counselor licensure from the Virginia Department of Education. Provisional licensure is available without prior experience, while full licensure requires two years of teaching or school counseling experience. Candidates must pass the PRAXIS 5422 School Counseling exam or a state equivalent. The Lynchburg private nonprofit charged $8,340 for 2023-24, the same for all, and awarded 382 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
2
Longwood University
Master of Education with a Concentration in Reading, Literacy, and Learning
Farmville, Virginia
85.2- Public
- Leads to a license
- Reading Teacher Education
- Degrees awarded
- 37 a year
- Yearly cost
- $7,758
- In-state rate
- $7,758, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $19,926
Reading specialists in Virginia's public schools need an endorsement added to an existing license, and Longwood University in Farmville built its Master of Education with a Concentration in Reading, Literacy, and Learning to prepare for it. The master's track is 34 credits, and a 22-credit endorsement-only track serves those who already hold a master's degree.
Online sessions occur 3 to 7 times a semester, so cohorts get to know one another, and full-time students can finish in one year. The endorsement requires passing the RVE state exam and at least three years of classroom reading-teaching experience. CAEP accredits the program, which aligns with ILA Standards for Reading Professionals. Virginia residents paid $7,758 for 2023-24 at this public university, and 37 master's degrees were awarded. The Virginia Department of Education grants the endorsement.
3
Old Dominion University
Special Education (M.S.Ed.), Virginia Licensure
Norfolk, Virginia
75.8- Public
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 67 a year
- Yearly cost
- $14,848
- In-state rate
- $14,848, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $35,008
Old Dominion University in Norfolk delivers its Special Education (M.S.Ed.), Virginia Licensure through ODUGlobal in accelerated 8-week asynchronous terms. Three concentrations are open: Early Childhood Special Education for birth to age 6, General Curriculum K-12 for mild disabilities, and Adapted Curriculum K-12 for severe disabilities.
The degree runs 33 to 36 credit hours with a practicum and student teaching, and an applicant may take up to 12 credit hours as a non-degree student before formal admission. It is designed to lead to a Virginia teaching license with a special education endorsement, and the state approves it for that purpose, with the license itself coming from the Virginia Department of Education. Virginia residents paid $14,848 for 2023-24 at this public university, which awarded 67 master's degrees.
4
Regent University
Master of Education in Teaching (Individualized Degree Plan)
Virginia Beach, Virginia
67.8- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Education, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 118 a year
- Yearly cost
- $17,828
- In-state rate
- $17,828, 2023-24
Thirty credit hours, shaped by the student, define the Master of Education in Teaching with an Individualized Degree Plan at Regent University in Virginia Beach. Electives cover at-risk students, character development, classroom management, Christian school education, curriculum, educational leadership, human development, literacy, TESOL, and technology. A professional project or portfolio concludes the degree, and a joint-degree arrangement with another Regent graduate program can cut it to 24 credit hours.
The program is meant for people who are already licensed or who do not seek traditional state licensure, and it does not lead to a Virginia license. Assignments in public or private schools require background checks. The private nonprofit charged all graduate students $17,828 for 2023-24, and it awarded 118 master's degrees in the latest federal count. The Virginia Department of Education licenses teachers.
5
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, with focus on Instructional Technology
Blacksburg, Virginia
66.8- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 87 a year
- Yearly cost
- $18,013
- In-state rate
- $18,013, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $34,085
Courses in the Instructional Technology focus at Virginia Tech follow a set sequence, and every project is built around the student's own workplace, whether that is a K-12 school, a college, or corporate training. The Master of Arts in Education in Curriculum and Instruction is delivered entirely over the web through the ITMA distance program, with a structured plan of study in place of open electives.
Blacksburg is the home campus. The degree grants no license, so a Virginia teacher who takes it holds the credential from the Virginia Department of Education separately and uses the degree to move toward technology-focused instructional roles. Virginia residents paid $18,013 for 2023-24 at this public university, and it awarded 87 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
6
University of Lynchburg
Master of Education in Special Education
Lynchburg, Virginia
66.7- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Special Education and Teaching, General
- Degrees awarded
- 18 a year
- Yearly cost
- $10,605
- In-state rate
- $10,605, 2023-24
Deaf and Hard of Hearing is one of four emphases in the University of Lynchburg's Master of Education in Special Education, alongside General Curriculum K-12, Adapted Curriculum K-12, and Early Childhood Special Education from birth to 5. The fully online degree is 33 credit hours, with two internship placements required for initial licensure and an Action Research Capstone as an option.
Completing it leads to a provisional special education teaching license in Virginia with an emphasis-specific endorsement, issued by the Virginia Department of Education, and the license is eligible for reciprocity in other states. The education programs carry CAEP accreditation. The Lynchburg private nonprofit charged every graduate student $10,605 for 2023-24, and it awarded 18 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
7
Mary Baldwin University
Master of Education
Staunton, Virginia
59.0- Private nonprofit
- Leads to a license
- Education, Other
- Degrees awarded
- 17 a year
- Yearly cost
- $13,170
- In-state rate
- $13,170, 2023-24
Six concentrations sit inside Mary Baldwin University's Master of Education: Leadership Through Authentic Learning (Curriculum and Instruction), Elementary Education, English as a Second Language (K-12), Gifted Education, Reading Education, and Special Education (General Curriculum, K-12). Courses are asynchronous, run seven weeks each, and can be taken one at a time, with six start dates a year and about two years to finish.
A 15 to 20 page Inquiry Research Project closes the degree. Some options are designed for people seeking Virginia licensure or already holding it through the Virginia Department of Education, while non-licensure options also exist. CAEP is the program's accreditor. The Staunton private nonprofit charged $13,170 for 2023-24 to every graduate student, and awarded 17 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
8
University of Virginia
Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction
Charlottesville, Virginia
57.7- Public
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 146 a year
- Yearly cost
- $22,612
- In-state rate
- $22,612, 2023-24
- Out-of-state rate
- $36,198
A wide set of emphasis areas, including Educational Innovation, English as a Second Language, Gifted Education, Instructional Technology, Literacy, Professional Studies, Social and Emotional Learning, Social Foundations, and Customized Coursework, are offered in the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. The online program is asynchronous, can be taken part-time or full-time, and can finish in as little as one year, with a comprehensive culminating assignment built into the final course.
It does not itself issue a license, so Virginia teachers pair it with the Collegiate Professional License from the Virginia Department of Education. Virginia residents paid $22,612 for 2023-24 at this public university, which awarded 146 master's degrees in the latest federal count.
9
Averett University
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Danville, Virginia
54.3- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 12 a year
- Yearly cost
- $12,090
- In-state rate
- $12,090, 2023-24
Virginia teachers who hold a full or provisional license are the intended students of Averett University's Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. In Danville, the accelerated online program runs 20 months and 34 credits, with no more than two courses at a time in 6- or 8-week blocks, no face-to-face meetings, and licensed Virginia educators as instructors.
An Educational Foundations pathway offers electives such as Characteristics of Exceptional Children, Content Area Literacy, Class Management and Tiered Supports, and Enhanced Strategies to Support English Learners. The degree itself does not lead to licensure in Virginia, so the Virginia Department of Education still issues the license. The private nonprofit charged all graduate students $12,090 for 2023-24 and awarded 12 master's degrees.
10
Eastern Mennonite University
MA in Education: Curriculum & Instruction
Harrisonburg, Virginia
52.3- Private nonprofit
- No license involved
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Degrees awarded
- 17 a year
- Yearly cost
- $15,500
- In-state rate
- $15,500, 2023-24
Elementary, middle, or high school: Eastern Mennonite University lets Virginia teachers pick the emphasis route when they take its online MA in Education: Curriculum & Instruction. The degree is 36 credit hours, and students average two to three years to finish, starting in fall, spring, or summer terms.
Each candidate designs an action research project with an academic mentor, which keeps the final work rooted in a real school. Harrisonburg, where the university is located, sits in the Shenandoah Valley. The program leads to no license, so it complements the Collegiate Professional License rather than replacing it, and the Virginia Department of Education handles that credential. This private nonprofit charged every graduate student $15,500 for 2023-24, and it awarded 17 master's degrees.
How We Rank
Every eligible program is scored out of 100. Each figure becomes a percentile against the 1771 ranked programs, and the percentiles are weighted as below. The methodology page explains each choice.
- Degrees awarded: 50%. Master's degrees the program conferred in the latest reported year, counted up to 50. Past 50 a year a program is clearly established and more volume adds nothing.
- In-state tuition and fees: 50%. The university's graduate in-state tuition plus required fees for a full-time year, 2023-24, the price a Virginia resident pays. Lower cost scores higher.
Reading the cards. The tuition figure is each school's in-state graduate rate for a full-time year, 2023-24, with its out-of-state rate beside it where the two differ.
Source: federal IPEDS records, read October 6, 2026. Tuition and fees are each school's graduate in-state rate for 2023-24. Scores are our own.
Which Online Master's Programs in Virginia Lead to a License?
5 ranked programs at schools in Virginia lead to a license, certificate or endorsement, scored the same way as the list above, one program per school. The Virginia teacher licensure guide covers what the state asks for beyond the degree.
| Rank | School | Program | Credential the school names | In-state rate, 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University | Master of Education in School Counseling | School counselor | $8,340 |
| 2 | Longwood University | Master of Education with a Concentration in Reading, Literacy, and Learning | Virginia Reading Specialist endorsement (added to an existing license) | $7,758 |
| 3 | Old Dominion University | Special Education (M.S.Ed.), Virginia Licensure | Educator license | $14,848 |
| 4 | University of Lynchburg | Master of Education in Special Education | Educator license | $10,605 |
| 5 | Mary Baldwin University | Master of Education | Educator license | $13,170 |
What Does an Online Master's in Education Cost in Virginia?
An online master's in education at a school in Virginia costs a resident from $7,758 to $22,612 a year in graduate tuition and fees across these 10 programs, with a median of $14,009, for 2023-24. These are full-time yearly charges at the in-state rate, and many universities bill online students per credit instead, so the program's own figure may differ.
Which Virginia Universities Lead the Online Master's List, and Why?
Liberty University and Longwood University lead the Virginia universities on this list, for different reasons. Liberty offers a counseling degree that its program page describes as online with required intensives and CACREP-accredited, and its graduating class is the largest of any school here by a wide margin. Longwood leads on price: its Reading, Literacy, and Learning degree carries the lowest in-state rate on the list.
Old Dominion's special education program, titled with Virginia licensure in the name, comes next, followed by Regent's Master of Education in Teaching. Virginia Tech's instructional technology focus within curriculum and instruction, and the University of Virginia's Curriculum and Instruction M.Ed., are the flagships, and their in-state prices run well above Longwood's.
What Specialties Do Virginia's Online Master's Programs Focus On?
Virginia's online master's programs focus on three kinds of work. Reading and literacy is Longwood's territory, and its page says the program meets state requirements to add a Reading Specialist endorsement to a license and is available fully online, with some courses meeting synchronously a few times each semester. Special education appears twice, at Old Dominion and the University of Lynchburg, and both lead to a credential.
The rest are curriculum and instruction degrees, at Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Averett and Eastern Mennonite, plus general master's degrees at Mary Baldwin and Regent. Liberty's counseling program is the only school counseling degree on the list. Choose among the curriculum degrees by looking at electives and capstone expectations, since the titles overlap heavily.
How Do Virginia's Regulations Treat a Master's for Teachers and Counselors?
Virginia's regulations treat a master's as a route to the Postgraduate Professional License for someone who already qualifies for the Collegiate Professional License, and the license terms are set in regulation. A teacher who starts working before finishing can hold a Provisional License for up to three years.
A principal adds an administration and supervision endorsement, which on the approved-program route asks for a master's, licensed instructional experience and an internship. A school counselor needs a master's from a state-approved program with internship and practicum hours at two grade levels. Our Virginia licensure guide covers exams, reciprocity and the training requirements for initial licensure.
What Does Studying Online at a Virginia University Mean for Residents?
Studying online at a Virginia university means paying in-state tuition, which the cost chart sets out, and finding a supervised placement near home rather than near campus. For counseling and leadership programs, practicum and internship hours are fixed by regulation, so ask early who approves your site and your supervisor.
Virginia has belonged to NC-SARA since 2014 through the southern compact. For a resident who later moves, SARA does not address licensing-board approval, so a Virginia degree is not a license in another state. Ask for your program's licensure disclosure for the destination.
Questions About Online Master's in Education Programs in Virginia
What Is the Cheapest Online Master's in Education in Virginia?
How Are Online Master's in Education Programs in Virginia Ranked?
Which Virginia Online Master's Lets a Teacher Add a Reading Specialist Endorsement?
Longwood University's Reading, Literacy, and Learning program is the one on this list that says so, offering both a master's and an endorsement-only option for teachers who already hold a master's. Confirm with Longwood which courses and field work apply to your license.
Is Liberty University's School Counseling Master's Accepted for a Virginia Counselor License?
Virginia's regulation asks for a master's from a state-approved counselor preparation program with internship and practicum hours, plus experience. Ask Liberty for its written disclosure for Virginia, and check the approval status with the Department of Education before you enroll.
What Does Old Dominion's Virginia Licensure Special Education Degree Offer?
The title states that the program is designed around Virginia licensure, and it leads to a credential. Ask the department what prior coursework or a bachelor's background it expects, and how student teaching is arranged where you live.
Why Do Virginia's Public Flagship Programs Cost More Than Regional Ones?
Prices are set by each university, and the cost chart shows the gap. Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia sit at the upper end of the in-state range, while Longwood sits at the lower end. Weigh the difference against the focus of each degree.
Where Do the Figures for Virginia Come From?
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- IPEDS Institutional Characteristics, 2023-24
- Liberty University, M.Ed. in School Counseling
- Longwood University, Reading, Literacy, and Learning
- Virginia Administrative Code, 8VAC20-23-50
- Virginia Administrative Code, 8VAC20-23-620
- Virginia Administrative Code, 8VAC20-23-670
- NC-SARA, Professional Licensure
Tuition and degree counts come from federal records each college reports about itself.
Show the federal record for all 10 colleges ranked, in 1 state
Liberty University Longwood University Old Dominion University Regent University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University University of Lynchburg Mary Baldwin University University of Virginia Averett University Eastern Mennonite University